Grand Soul Story

About

"Grand Soul Story" is a nonlinear JRPG set in the troubled city-state of DuPont, where you must navigate competing factions and make difficult choices to reach your family in Yerdan. With a deep combat system, original score, and hand-crafted NPC interactions, this game offers a character-driven journey filled with exploration and meaningful decisions, leading to multiple endings. Created by solo-developer Jeremy Reineck, it provides an old-school challenge and immersive experience for players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 56 reviews

story34 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story with strong character development and meaningful choices that impact the narrative.
The soundtrack is highly praised, enhancing the atmosphere and emotional depth of the game.
The world-building is immersive, with a gritty and engaging setting that feels realistic and alive.

There are significant game-breaking bugs, particularly a progression halting issue in the Red Temple that has not been resolved despite prior indications from developers.
Combat can feel tedious and unbalanced, especially in the early game where encounters can be overly punishing without proper resources.
The game lacks polish in certain areas, with reports of soft locks, sequence breaks, and other technical issues that detract from the overall experience.

story
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The game's story is highly praised for its depth, character development, and engaging narrative, with players appreciating the political themes and the ability to influence character fates through choices. The non-linear storytelling and modular quest design allow for a rich exploration of personal backstories, while the blend of gritty and whimsical elements keeps the experience balanced. Despite some frustrations with quest completion and difficulty, the overall plot and character interactions are seen as unique and compelling, making it a standout in the JRPG genre.
- “Excellent game with great character development, a good story, and rewarding exploration; choices matter.”
- “The story is engaging, especially with the personal backgrounds and quests with your companions.”
- “Gritty and emotional story, but also with a lot of RPG wackiness along the way so it doesn't get too heavy.”
- “There is a bit of Matrix and, I guess, Xenogears, and one of the endings (the true ending for how it is presented) kinda wipes out everything you think about the story.”
- “I have no idea what Billie's deal is, and the Dumonde quest was bugged for me, and I couldn't see its conclusion.”
- “The story is very dense and told in a non-linear way.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
20%
7%
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many praising the soundtrack as one of the most enjoyable in the JRPG genre, effectively complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall atmosphere. While some users noted that the music can become repetitive mid-game, the majority appreciated its ability to set the tone and evoke nostalgia, contributing to an immersive experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that meshes well with the game's art and narrative.
- “The art style is beautiful and the music really sets the tone for the area you are in.”
- “The musical score is just awesome and fits the game's general aesthetics and atmosphere.”
- “What really sets it apart are the immersive environments and the incredible soundtrack.”
- “The music in this game?”
- “The soundtrack is neither good nor bad; it fits some moments, but it starts to be kind of repetitive mid-game.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
64%
21%
The gameplay is characterized by traditional RPG Maker mechanics, featuring turn-based combat and skill progression through leveling up. While the graphics utilize RPG Maker assets and some AI-generated elements, they are visually appealing. The game also integrates unique storytelling elements, such as maintaining a party member's sobriety, enhancing the overall experience alongside a fitting soundtrack and art style.
- “The soundtrack perfectly complemented the gameplay, and the art style alongside the map design truly stood out.”
- “Exploration and combat gameplay: pretty traditional RPG Maker stuff, turn-based and skills only learned by leveling up.”
- “To the point where you are encouraged to maintain that party member's sobriety through gameplay mechanics as well.”
- “If you're into indie games that pack a punch in storytelling and gameplay, definitely give this one a go!”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
42%
8%
The graphics feature a blend of RPG Maker assets and some AI-generated elements, resulting in a visually appealing art style that enhances the game's atmosphere. While the pixel art and map design are praised for their beauty, the combat visuals and idle animations are noted as distracting and not well-integrated with the overall aesthetic. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's experience, though there are areas for improvement.
- “The art style is beautiful and the music really sets the tone for the area you are in.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complemented the gameplay, and the art style alongside the map design truly stood out.”
- “The musical score is just awesome and fits the game's general aesthetics and atmosphere.”
- “However, the combat system and combat visuals could be more aligned with the wonderfully crafted world.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highlighted by solid pixel art and a diverse musical score that enhances its gritty cyberpunk setting. Reviewers appreciate the unique characters and storyline, as well as the engaging interactions with darker themes like addiction, which add depth to the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as immersive and captivating, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “Solid pixel art, nice music, and the gritty cyberpunk atmosphere kept my interest all the way through.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is a lot of fun to interact with, including some of the darker elements such as references to addiction and some choices which, while not perhaps important for how the game ends, do have interesting commentary on choice nonetheless.”
- “The characters, storyline, atmosphere, and environments are actually pretty unique as far as JRPGs go.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a gritty and engaging story that fosters strong character attachments, while balancing the intensity with lighthearted RPG elements to prevent it from becoming overly heavy. Players appreciate the exploration of themes related to divinity, though some feel that this could be achieved without diminishing emotional connections to the characters.
- “Gritty and emotional story, but also with a lot of RPG wackiness along the way so it doesn't get too heavy.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that grinding is not a significant aspect of the game, as it focuses more on equipment prioritization rather than repetitive tasks. The initial hours can be challenging, with some players feeling stuck at times, but overall, grinding is not a core mechanic.
- “The game in the first five or six hours is hard, especially if you think grinding is your thing. This is a game where grinding is not a viable option, and I only felt stuck at a couple of points. You must prioritize equipment instead.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its exceptional character development, which is intricately tied to a compelling story and meaningful player choices, enhancing the overall exploration experience.
- “Excellent game with great character development, a good story, and rewarding exploration; choices matter.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is well-executed, striking a balance between being amusing without veering into silliness, resulting in several laugh-out-loud moments that enhance the overall experience.
- “The humor sprinkled throughout the game is spot on—it's not too silly and just surprising enough to create some laugh-out-loud moments.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization on the Steam Deck has raised some performance concerns, particularly regarding the potential impact of Proton. While some players find these issues manageable, those seeking a more polished experience may struggle to fully enjoy the game.
- “I'm on Steam Deck; not sure if Proton plays a role in the performance issues. It doesn't bother me at all, but if you need extra polish to enjoy a game, this will probably be hard for you.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game has been reported to have some stability issues, with multiple users noting that it is "a bit buggy." Overall, players may experience occasional glitches or performance hiccups.
- “The game is a bit buggy.”
- “The game is a bit buggy.”
- “The game is a bit buggy.”